We have partnered with the Missouri State Parks (Sam A. Baker Park), along with 2025 Platinum Sponsor Missouri Highlands Healthcare, to see who can hike 7,980’ elevation (The height of Mt. Olympus) right here in the beautiful Ozark region in Missouri. Each participant will have twelve hours to hike EIGHT times (change for 2026*) up Mudlick Mountain. Mudlick Mountain has the second highest vertical increase in the entire state of Missouri. Hiking eight times up, the vertical ascent is equal to hiking Mount Olympus in the state of Washington. Why did we choose Mt. Olympus as a benchmark? Although in Greek mythology Olympus meant “mountain” or “gathering place of the gods”, in modern times Olympus represents “a place or state of joy and happiness.” The total hiking distance is approximately 21 miles. Each hiker will be shuttled back down to the base after each successful ascent. The hiking route has changed for 2026 (so we don’t have hikers and shuttles on the same road*). The route is Mudlick Hike Only Trail (available on All Trails app), to Mudlick Equestrian and Hike Trail, to the spur to Fire Tower Trail. This trail is rated “hard” by All Trails for its rugged terrain and (near 28% at times) incline. Once at the summit of Mudlick Mountain, shuttles will then take hikers back down to the trailhead. This challenge is NOT a race. It is the external (physical) YOU versus the internal (mental) YOU. Other participants & race volunteers will be encouraging you along the way. If you can’t complete all 8 times/21 miles, we will celebrate your ascent achievement; even if it is one time (nearly 950′ elevation change and 2.6 miles)! If you competed in the past and insist on “beating last year”, you can ascend additional times after you “Conquer Mt. Olympus”, but you still have 12 hours.

*After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to adjust the course for The Ozark’s Mountain Challenge for 2026.
Safety has always been our top priority. Although we believe Dwayne and his drivers (at Otahki Lake KOA) are the best, many of you have shared concerns about participants being on the road alongside shuttle traffic, and we agree that this is not ideal. Additionally, we recognize that hiking on trails is more enjoyable and natural than on a gravel road, and no one enjoys the smell of vehicle fumes while hiking.
Our goal is to ensure the longevity of this event and, most importantly, the safety of our amazing community—many of whom return year after year (some will even be sporting lizard tattoos in 2026!). We also want to open the experience to more participants, and this change will help us do just that.